With blooms rapidly diminishing, it is time to look at the structure of the garden.

Many plants that have been in the background and taken for granted, come into their own now, such as my Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis. It is a lovely specimen conifer tree that only gets to 30ft x 15ft spread. It has dark green pendulous foliage, and is quite a winter focal point.

In front is the home-grown topiary 'sofa' (yellow Privet). It was very easy to create, although it took several years to properly fill out. We have had it for over 25 years, and it is always a talking point, although surprisingly in cold winters, it does lose its foliage.

The evergreen shrubs, such as Photinia Red Robin with striking red foliage, cope well with any winter weather, as does the Prunus Lusitanica Variegata. The hedge would have looked good in solid green, but the variegated form is, in my opinion a lot more interesting.

As they are evergreen they sit quite happily next to the busy summer colour, and help to define the 'garden rooms'.

The silver filigree of the Perovskia foliage, minus flowers now, still has an imposing presence unlike any other outline and sets off the nearby dark Echinacea (thistle-like heads) a treat.

Of course topiary shapes are very fashionable, and rightly so, their outlines add another dimension. If they are in pots they can be moved to best effect but it is worth remembering that top-heavy topiary is vulnerable to wind. Glazed pots, to avoid frost damage, are best raised off the ground and put on pot feet.